Cooling-system control



Dec. 18 1928 1,695,446 F. w. WESTON COOLING SYSTEM CONTROL Filed June 8. 1922 2 Sh eets-Sheet' 1 By m Dec. 18, 1928.

Filed June 8, 1922 F w WESTQN COOLING SYSTEM CONTROL Imverufor fiealerz'c /Z 17. 1425292 Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED .srnres earner entice,

FREDERICK WESTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COOLING-SYSTEM coN'moL.

Application and me a,

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for automatically controlling and indicating temperature of internal combustion engines. I

I am aware that it has been a common practice to provide a thermostatically controlled means for operating shutters in connection with'the cooling system of an automobile to properly control the heat of the motor and that it is also common to provide means for indicating the temperature at which the motor is operating. However, it is new as far as I 1 am aware, to operate the mechanismwhich opens and closes the shutters by suction created by the running of the motor audit is also new to provide a single thermostatic means for controlling the suction and also indica'ting the temperature at which the motor engine to cut 03 the supply of ccolin is operating.

One object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means controlled by the temperature of internal combustion engines 7 or motors for regulating the temperature of the same.

. A more specific object of the invention is to provide suction operated means, thermostatically controlled for actuating an apparatus' for regulating the amount of circulated air admitted to the cooling means of internal combustion engines.

Another ob ect of the invention is to pro vide suction actuated mechanism controlled by the operation of the internal combustioin a r when the engine is stopped. Another 0 ject of the invention is to provide means for indicating the bperating temperature of the motor at all times so that it may readily be determined if the motor is functioning properly. Another object of the invention is to combine in a single apparatus,.means for controlling the temperature of and indicating the opcrating temperature of internal combustion engines.

Another object of the invention is to rovide a mechanism of the class descri ed, wherein the apparatus for regulating the tempcrature of the motor and the device for indicatingthe operating temperature of the motor, are controlled by thesame thermosensitive device. Y Y

' Inthe drawings forming apart of this specification, Figure 1 shows a plan new of the annular shutter member, partly broken away to show the means for operating the shutters. Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 1922. Serial No. 568,884.

2-2 of Fig. 1, disclosing, in detail, the expansible and contractible motor. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the thermostat-containing casing showing the operating connections for theindicator and the shutters. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of Fig. 3 showing the parts in detail. Fig. 5 is a section through the in strument board of an automobile showing the arrangement of the indicator dial. Fig. 6 is a side elevatibn of an automobile motor andradiator showing the manner of connecting my. improved apparatus therewith.

In the drawings, 1 indicates an annular ring-shaped shell or casing having angularly projecting flanges 2'and 3. Carried by the annular shell 1 are radially extending rods 4 of a bicycle spoke t pe connected thereto by internally threade sleeves, received Within the recesses 6. The opposite ends of the radially extendin rods 4 are connected to a ringshaped p ate 7 by means of angularly extending headed curved ends 8. The ring-shaped plate 7 is thus rigidly supported by the spokes from the annular member 1. Plates 9 and 10 a are rigidly connected in fixed position and relatively spaced by bolts 11 extending through and secured .to the ring 7. Suitably supported between the fixed plates 9 and 10 is an expansible and contractiblebel ,vided to prevent separation of the crank disc and the wall Within the bellows motor, a spring 24 is located, centered by bosses 25 and 26 on the walls 13 and 14 respectively, and

acting to hold the motor normally in expanded condition. Connected to the bottom wall 13 is a tube 27 leading to a valve for controlling the suction, hereinafter to be described. The tube 27 passes through the plate 10, be

ing properly secured to the screw-threadplug,

28 so as to make the connection air-tight. The plug 28 is held in position by means oii'a'lock- -.ing nut 29.

The annular shutter comprises a series ofradially extending shutter blades or slats 3O loosely pivoted on the rods it by means of angular projections 81 and82 at opposite 5 lows motor 12 having an inner wall 13 abutting the plate 10, and outer wall. 14-secured to the ends thereof. Spacing collars 33, 34 and 35 are provided to hold the blades in proper ositi'on. Each of the blades 30 is provi ed with a crank pin 36, received within a corresponding recess 20 of the plate 18.

Asshown in Fig. 6, the annular casing 1- is secured to the outer side of the automobile radiator 37. The ordinary type of radiator As shown in Fig. 6, the pipe 27 is connected with a T-casin 38 containing the thermostat and the va ve for controlling the suction created within the chamber of motor 12. Another pipe 39 forms a connection 'between the intake manifold 140 of the motor and the casing 38 to provide'suotion for the operation of the shutter.

As shown in Fig. 4, the casing 38 is formed with a main chamber in which the thermostats 40 and 41 are located, and endnipples 42 and 43. The lower part of the casing 38 has an o ning '44 being'closed by a plate 45 secured stat 41 rests u on the upper end of the thermostat 40 and has connected-theretoby means of the yoke 48, a forked-rod 49. The rod 49 is somounted as to reciprocate in a bore 50 and packing nut 51. The upper forked end 52 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 53 to the lever 54, pivotally mounted at 55 in a fork-shaped bracket 56. The thermostat 40 is gauged to respond to a temperature of 180 and the thermostat 41 is gauged to respond to a temperature of 150. As the temperature of the cooling medium flowing through the casin 38. rises, the thermostat 41 Wlll be expan ed, the thermostat 40 remaining inactive, thus forming an abutment for the lower end of the thermostat 41. When the temperature of the cooling medium reaches 180?, the thermostat 40-will also be expanded lifting the thermostat 41,. thereby giving an addltional movement to the lever 54. The upper end 57 oflthecasing 38 is provided. with a thickened portion recessed as shown at 58 to receive the valve mechanism which controls the suction. The

' recess 58 is enlarged at its upper end as shown at 59 and provided with screw threads 60. Threaded within the lower portion of the recesses 59 is a ring-shaped collar 61 which confines a ball valve 62 within the recess 58. The ball 62 held in contact with the valve seat 63 of the collar 61 by means of a spring 64 seated against the lower end of the recess y screws 46 and 47. The thermo-' 58. The upper portion of the recess 59 is closed by means of a threaded sleeve 65 which forms a guide for a rod 66 for operating the ball valve 62. As will be noted upon ,reference toFig. 4, the collar 61 and sleeve 65 are spaced apart so as to provide a chamber 67. The pipe 39 communicating with the intake manifold 40 connects with the cham 66 and when rocked by the expansion of thethermostats 40 and 41, operates the valve 62 to allow the suction of the motor to effect the contraction of the motor 12.

The shaft 70 is flexible and has the end opposite to the pinion 69 connected to an indicator on the instrument board.

As, shown in Fig. 5, the indicator 73 is mounted on the instrument board 74 and comprises a dial 75 and a pointer 76. The latter is rigidly connected for rotation with the shaft 77 coupled to the flexible shaft 70. The indicator 73 is shown as held to the instrument board by means of the threaded boss 78 extendin through the board 74 and held in position shaft 70 is enclosed by the usual casing 80, swivelly connected by means of the head and sleeve 91 to. the sleeve 92 secured to the boss 78.

It will be seen that upon oscillation of the lever 54, the pinion 69 will be rotated there The operation of my invention is as follows: The blades 30 are normally in closed position and the motor 12 expanded as shown y lock nut 79. The flexible Inn in Fi 2. Upon suction being created throug 1 the pipe 27, the motor 12 will contract and move thecrank plate downwardly away from the ring 7 as showm in Fig. 2, thus moving the crank ins 36 in a downward direction and mo ing the blades 30 upon their pivots to open the same. It will be noted that the recesses 20 in the plate 18 are of such a size as to allow for the lateral movement of the pins 36 produced during the rocking of the blades. When the blades are thus opened, air will be admitted to the cooling surfaces of the radiator and. prevent thev temperature of the cooling liquid from rising too rapidly. Upon the suction being removed, the spring 24 will return the motor 12 to its normal expanded condition, moving esa-me reaches a predetermined temperature, the

thermostats will become effective to operate the lever 54, thus depressing the valve '62 and allowing communication to be established between the tube 27 leading to the motor 12 and the pipe 39 leading to the intake mani fold of the motor, thus allowing the suction due to the operation of the engine to become operative to contract the motor 12, opening the blades 30 and thereby allowing the air' to circulate through the radiator. The thermostats 4:0 and ll also operate the means for indicating the temperature of the motor throu h the lever 54, and when this lever is rocked, as previously described, the pinion .69 will be rotated and the indicating"- member 76-moved to correspond therewith to properly indicate the temperature of the motor.

Although the shutter of my improvements is operated by suction derived from the in take manifold of the engine, it will be noted that I do not impose any undesirable burden upon theengine, inasmuch as when my suction motor 12 has once been contracted, no further effort from the intake manifold is required, other than to merely maintain the. suction motor 12- in its contracted position. When the suction from the intake manifold is cut off-from the suction motor 12, a slight amount of leakage is permitted through the sleeve 65 around the stem 66, sufficient to break the vacuum. within the suction motor 12 and allow the spring 24 to expand and restore the suction motor to its normal condition.

In the drawings, 1 have shown of circular form, but as will be understood by those skilled in the art, it may take other forms and many variations maybe made in the details of construction and particularly with respect to the shutter blades or slats without in any wise departing from the spirit of the invention.

I haveherein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carry' ing out my inventiom but the same is'merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: v

1. In an apparatus for automatically controlling the temperature of-internal combustion. engines, the coinbinationwith a cooling system, including a radiator adapted to have a motor-cooling fluid circulate therethrough, said radiator being subject to a cooling air current for cooling said fluid; of means for a shutter cutting ofi the air current comprising an annular series of shutter blades, each of said blades beingrotatable on a longitudinal axis thereof; a heat responsive device associated with said coolin'gsystem so as tobe in the circulatory path of said fluid and suction operated mechanism controlled by said device for operating said means to rot-ate said blades to adjust the same and thereby regulate the temperature of the engine.

= .2. In an apparatus for automatically con-i trolling the temperature of a motor; the combination with a cooling system including a radiator subject toa cooling air current; of means for cutting off the air current, comprising a series of shutter blades radially disposed with reference to a common center, each of said blades being mounted for rotation on its longitudinal axis; suction operated mechanism at the center of said blades for operating said shutter blades to open the same; and means for returning said mechanism to normal condition and closing the shutters when the -suction is discontinued.

3. In an apparatus for automatically controlling the'temperature of motors: the 00111- bination with a cooling system, including a radiator, subject to a cooling air current;of means for cutting 0d the air current, comprising a series of pivoted shutter blades; and a suction operated device about which said blades are radially disposed and to which all of said blades are pivoted for operating said pivoted shutter blades to thereby regulate the temperature of the motor.

4. In an apparatus for automatically con trolling the temperature of motors: the combination with a cooling system, including a radiator subjectto a coollng' air 'current;-of means for cutting off the air currentrto regulate the temperature of themotor, said means comprising an annular series of radiallydis.

posed shutter blades, each provided with a crank arm, a plate centrally disposed with respect to said radially arranged blades, said plate being operatively connected to' all of said crank arms to rotate the same and operate the shutter plates to cut off the air current; andan expansible and contractible suctionoperatd device for reciprocating said plate. 5

5. Inan apparatus for automatically controlling'thetemperature of motors, the com bination with'la cooling system, including a radiator subject to a cooling air current.; of means for cutting oifthe air current including a series of pivoted shutter blades radially disposed. with reference to a common axis; and

" means on the same side of said radiator as said blades and movable lengthwise of saidaxis foroperating said pivoted blades to thereby regulate the temperature of the motor,

6. In an apparatus for controlling the temperature 'of internal combustion engines having an intake manifold and radi- 130 ating means for cooling the engine, the combination with a shutter adapted to open and close to admit or prevent a cooling current of air to impinge against said radiating means; of a suction motor for actuating said shutter; a valve mechanism for said suction motor; an indicator mechanism; and common means for directly actuating said valve mechanism and indicator u'iechanism, including a thermosensitive means, operable in accordance with the temperature of the engine, for automatically controlling the operation of said suction motor.

7. In an apparatus for controlling the temperature of internal combustion engines l1aving an intake manifold and radiating means for cooling the engine, the combination with a shutter mechanism adapted to open and close to admit or prevent a cooling current of air to impinge against the radiating means;

of a suction motor including a flexible 'diaphragm and a reciprocable end Wall, said end wall being directly connected with said shutter mechanism to operate the same upon movement of said end Wall and thermo-sensitive means operable in accordance with the temperature of the engine for automatically controlling the operation of. i said suction motor.

8. In an apparatus for automatically controlling the temperature of water cooled motors of motor vehicles, the combination with a cooling system including a radiator through which the Water cooled circulates subject to a cooling air current',-said radiator being mounted at the front end of the vefor ready application of said shutter means and suction device as a unit to said radiator; and thermostatic means for'controlling the operation ofsaid suction device, said thermostatic means being in the path of movement of the circulating. water.

9. In an apparatus for automatically con,-

trolling the temperature of a motor; the combination wi th a cooling system therefor, including a radiator subject to a cooling air current; of "means for controlling said air current including an actuating member; a thermostat for operating said actuating member for efl'ecting movement of said air controlling means; and a second thermostat operative at a higher temperature than said first named thermostat and arranged in abutment therewith so as to move said first-named thermostat bodily to give additional inovement to said actuating member.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2nd day of June, 1922.

FREDERICK W. WESTON. 

